Automatic photographic-printing machine



BEST AVAILABLE COP`;

Oct. 26 1926.

i H. BLAlR AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25 1922 ull-Illlwulnlai illilll EY l BEST AVAILABLE ccas,`

Qct. 26 i926.

H. BLAR AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept.v25 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. H. LA// BY aM/fwn E ATTORNEY. V

BEST AVAILABLE coim Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,255

` H. ELA@ AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25,1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mlm.,

INVENTOR. BLA/f? /f 4Q( ATTORNEY.

BEST AVAILABLE CGP` Oct. 26 1926.

s-i.Y BLMR AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept. ,25l 1922 s sheets-sheet 4 INI/Envoie.

H. BLA/f? BY i @www ATTORNEY.

BEST AvAiLABLE 00P` Oct'. 26,1926.'A l 1,604,255

' H. BLAR AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept. 25, 1922 e sheets-sheet s FTP v INI/ENTOR.

H. BLA/5 ATTORNEY BEST AVALABLE COF Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,255

v H. BLAIR AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept.- 25 1922 e sheets-sheet e' Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

UNITE-n v-siares P BEST AVAILABLE COF` 1,604,255 Mitiai N orifice.

HosiiAv BLAIR, or SAN ElRANCISoo, ycallinci-:aiaiii.

AUTOMATICrHoToGiiAPHic-PRINTING MAoHnE.

Application yfiled September 2 5, 1922. Serial No. 590,413.

will handle a maximum number of sheets at the samev time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic photographic printing i machine which will handle Sheets of widely different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the sheet feeding mechanism will'positively cause but one sheetto fromv each magazine at a time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lightbox -forY the machine, in which the light may be concentrated or distributed in any manner desired.

' f lh'e invention possessesother objects and features of advantage, some of which, with be removed Y 'f grammatically, Vshowing-"the means of lin Figure 7, and a. part of thegripping device. Figure 9'is a vertical sectional view of the vacuum cup used for raising a sheet from the magazine.

j Figure -10v is a plan view vof the gripping oevice. A

Figures 11 and 12 are sectional views of the sheet gripping device used or withdrawiiigfthe printed sheets from the negative or opening in the light box.

Figure 13 is a vertical transverse sectionaL viewl partly 'in' elevation :showing the magazines.

' Figure 14 is a plan view, somewhat dia.-

ing the time of exposure.

fWFBrieiy expressed the 'inachiiie'iiiY its present form Vcomprises a! frame; a lightbox in "said frame provided'with alightI opening, a l" pluralityof magazinesladjacent one end of the foregoing, will be setHort-h in the .fol-I my invention which is illustrated in the inea-ns 'employing a'vacuuin or'elevating a 'poi-tion of the outermost sheet in'eac'h magadrawings accompanying and forming part of the speciiication.l It is `to'be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may. adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention Vas set forth in the claims. Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine.`

Figure liis a vertical longitudinal sec- Figure 2 is an end view f themachineL zin`e,"a,pad'1a'dapted for covering said vlight loweringsaid pad over the opening, a reciprocating meinber mountedv on the frame, Y

vari- -fsaid franie`each--adaptedfto contain 'sheets of" fthe saine 'oi"'diie ijentjfsize thaii'the other, lowing description of the preferredforin of `opening,fmean s f 'for' alternately raising and fthelE magazinesfaiid dep'ositgfthein over said f l light`-openiiig,'= secondi grippingsdevices attached' to'sai'dreciprocatingmember; adapted towithdrawth'e sheetsfrom the alight' opening while theV {irstdevicesi are 'oari'yingi other sheets theret'ogxand means 'for raising the 5sheets'asawhole' in the Imagazines so:v that tional view of theupper portion'of the ma- "i chine, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3, av

portion ot the mechanism being omitted to` show the hidden parts more clearly.

Figure v5 is a vertical longitudinal 'sec-l tional viewof machine taken on the linel` ing` the opening'or negative in the light box, and the means for raising and lowering the pad over the opening.

incsaid sheet therefrom.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the trip for' opening thesheet gripping device as it apf'V preaches the magazine. h

' 5 5 of Figure 3 showing the pad 'for cover-b ineansof a' cam 12 fixed onl a shaft 13- igiire 8 is an end View of the tripY shawn the o'utermostshe'ets will invariablybe at the "A aeeaieif aeseriptie foiiowsf The inachine"`comprises a suitable frame 2 in .which Iis helda light-box'- 3 provided with an opening, 4. The latter is provided Vwith'a glas'sor other transparent base plate 6 on which the photographie negative is suitably 'positioned or' fmounted.. Arrangedv to cover the'n'egati've or opening is a pad 7 which includesafelt liningI 8 and a plaie 9 properly held together. The pad is raised from or lowered down-upon the negative by mounted on `the frame. TheA shaft 13 is preferably driven byv a motor 1 4 thru the intervening/belt'-15, reductionl gears 16, sprockets 17 'an'dlgf and chain 19, a set et Ksprings-23 which encircle the .posts 2fithat :support the padufrfomthe-arm.- .The upward movement of the pad may be-'accomgplishedbyallowing theipeak ofgthe cam to engage a second arm 25 preferably pivoted *to the first 'at one .end and fconnected at itszother end thereto. Vbyfahspring.26. :It will thus Vbe .seen that-when the shaft-.rotates the pad will .alternately be held spaced zfrom and lowered .onthe negative-so' that the sheet or eard;.tobe printed may be placed over the negative While the padfis Y raised, Vprinted,when ethe-v pad fis lowered,

'and 'withdrawn when the -pad is raised suaabryheld. in .the nemen the-feed endot' the machine,"are a plurality of magazines 27 and28 whichas here shown `'are Ftwo. innumber and yadapted to contain a Iquantity xof the cards orfsheets to be printed. l-n'fthe ,present embodiment fthe.- sheets 29 'in v.ovnezmagazine are -ofdiiferent-size than the fsheets '30 inthe other magaine. The sheets ineaoh magazine are preferably positioned horizontally and arranged. in lamina, and

time and placed over the'opening in the liglit-box. Mounted for reciprocation on the vertical guides 32 adjacent each side of the .machine is .a crosslmember 33 from which depend plungers 3a and 35 associated with the respective magazines and positioned over the sheets. Each plunger 1s provided with a rod 37 which is movable ver.

ticully with respect to the plunger and is normally retained in extended relation by a .spring 38. Pivotally attached to an arm 3S) which is fixed to the rod is, what may be conveniently termed, a vacuum cup 41 formed of rubber or the like, whose orifice.

L2 faces the sheets in 'the magazine. By referring particularly to Figure it will be noted that the cup is pivoted to the arm practicallyr at the lower extremity of the cup` or in other Wordsrsubstantially at the side ot the orifice. The cross piece, and consequently the plungers are reciprocated by means of cams 43 fixed on the shaft 13. lVhen the plunger' is in the elevated position, as :indicated by the solid lines in Figure (i, the cup is caused by means of a spring 44 to assume an oblique position, but when the plunger is completely lowered a ,thereot tov the :now tilted. cup. theflexure of .the -top sheet', any tendency of the adjacent sheets to Vtier; andfrise with the top sheet, will produce aI slight ,relativev motionro thelowersheets with respect to metal/,Almere coP linger ftired thereto engages the pivot lug 47 of the cup and causes the cup to assume the Vertical position indicated in Figuret by Vthe broken lines. Assuming that the vplunger is at its lower position, the orifice of the' cup Will'be fully engaged with the .upper surface ofthe Iuppermost sheet in the magazine. Aftliis` 'time a vacuum pump 4:8 or other, suitab le means is adapted to ereate. a. partialnacuum linfthecup and thereby causegsigid sheet 4 to adhere .tothe .Cupz The fpumn-s Connected t' Bild1 l"CHP .bylexble tubes 49 andis preferably driven -from x the gearsflll ,so that ,it .mayread-ily be timed to produce or release the vacuum in the cup. .'Upon the plunger noirA isslig'ht- .ly .'raising'zthenger .45,Will become disen- -.gaged fromther-cppv and the latterwill swing 'to its obliqueiposition, -`therod 37, andfconseqnently the :pivot-alpoignt .ofI the l(cup. ,still retain ed in ,'vtheir.' lower J positions, .Withfthefarmtl thus' held solidly Iagainst the `sheets,-thenppermost sheet 'will have becomewiiened. due .tothe adherence Owing to the to.p.:shcet,therebybreaking the Vacuum maytetiist between the sheets. In 1A mannerowhenrthe plunger ascends to its :nppermostposition but one sheet will cling. .to .th,e`oup. .With the top sheet thus practically. separated lfrom the' others, the means are'provided for raising' a portion rofl the uppermost sheet vso :that 'the sheets from each magazine may be withdrawn one at aj pump is timedso that Ithe vacuum in the cup .may be releasedA just as soon-as the .sheet is properlyengaged such as by means for withdrawing it fromthe magazine.

means of a Weight 53 which is secured to e cable ft that passes over a pulleyv 55 and is suitably. connected to the rod. Upward movement of .the sheets as a uhole is limited by anadjustably mounted roller 5G. Formed in the bearing is an opening 5T poses a portion of the supporting red to the segmental surface of a bridge member 5S. Engaging in said opening between the segrment and surface .of Ythe red is a roller which is adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly so as to wedge between the surfaces or lie loosely therebetween, Athereby respectively locking the rod against movement or allowing it to move in the direction urged by the weight 53. The roller is mounted'in .a slot 61 formed in one end of a lever'62, and the roller is normally retained in wedged position by means of a spring 63 pressing ,against the other end. of the lever. 1When a sheetfhas been withdrawn from a magazine a'cam 64 fixed on the shaft 65.will momentarilyraisethe last mentioned end of the lever sutiicient to placethe roller in released position. `The cam preferably exertfits force againsteaeh lever ofthe magazine thru the spring pressed posts 67 which press against the hinged plate 68 that rides on he cam.

Means are provided for withdrawing the upA ermost sheet 'from each magazine after the sheet has been elevated, and depositing it over the negative while the pad is raised. Slidably iounted in slots 69 and 70 at the opposite sides ofthe machine frame are blocks il and 72 oueach ot which is mounted a Sheet; grippingdevice 73 for` clutching the sheets and moving them as required. The

,blocks are reeiprocated by'means of the eranlt T which is'jtixed to ,the shaft 13 -and is connected to the. blocks by thero'd 77. To

each blo-clijthereisftixed' ag double bearing 7S 'in vwhichisrotatably mounted a pair of parallel spindles'79 and 80', having crank arms the grippers' for causing them to pass over the .pad when moving toward-the magazine, and causinglther'n to pass" under the pad whe'zireturning trom the 'magazine with the sheet to be printed. 4lixedto the'outer end ot` the'spindle 79 is'a'crankf arm 87which-is proyided itsfreeend witha pin"88 .'v rllhe pin is ,arranged to engage in a guide v89 fixed to thejffram'e and positioned outwardly and abore'each of 'theslots '69 l'and 70. Encircling the spindles are springs 90 which serve to hold pin 8 8 pressed against thenpper 'provided on the blocks.

aEsT AVAILABLE com the vacuum in the cup is allowed to break, and immediately thereafter the projection 93 leaves the trip'94 and jaws close tightly on the sheet. At this time. the gripper is ready t0 withdraw trom the magazine and the pin 88 slips by the spring pressed trackpiece 96 of the guide and rides back under the lower riding surface of the guide. The gripper with the sheet firmly clutched therein thus moves toward the negative, over which the pad is now arranged to be ele- -Vated As the sheet is drawn over the negative the pin 88 meets the downwardlyv extending portion 97 ot the guide and the sheet is lowered'into the light opening. lVith the sheet then positioned over the negative, the projection' 93 encounters another trip 9S and the shcfetlis released. After releasing the sheet the pin SS'moves up again on the top riding surface ot the guide'and the grippers are again on their way toward the magazine. 'lVith the grippers thus travelling toward the' magazine, the pad is lowered over the sheetV 'and negative, and the printing is "eiiectedl'f I f Means are also providedfor withdrawing ,itheffsheet from'the negative after the ormer 'has beenprinted. In the present'torin ot the invention a second set of gripping devices are used or-A this purpose, whichA are 'some- Iwhat similar to the firstgrippersfand are "movable therewith. The second set of :grippers are mounted on blocks 99 which engagein the slots 69 and 70 and are secured to the blocks 7 1 and 72 by means of the adjustable rods 101.. A double bearing 102 "with spindles 103, cranks 104, 'springs'105, upper and lower jaws 106 and'107, are also A pin S andi 'crank109 similar to the pin 88 and crank 87 arearranged at the outer end oi the `spindles, the pin being adapted to engage on the riding surfaces of a guide 110. lVhen f theisecond gripperV is'moving i toward the printedshee'a'it rides against the lower face' '112-'of theguide, and' when withdrawing llO from the magazines. AIn order that the `gripping devices may operate smoothly and the variousv crankarms'readily maintain'the'ir neeted by alink 92. The operatio'nzofithe i that the gripp'ers are moving towardthe and lower'ridingjsurfaces offthe guide 89 `i from the negativeitv rides on the upper face while the "grippers-'are' reciprocating to ,and

proper relations, parallel cranks 91,' are fixed to the spindles atA their; outer -'end'and congrippin'g devices is asffollows': Assuming 120 magazine the pin-v 88 will'engageon the up# ,perridinv surface'of the guide. iAs the jaws near.the'magazine,.a projection 93 on the upper jaw encounters' a fixed trip 94 which causesthe upper jaw to rise and thus as the 1 jawsreaeh for-'the elevated sheet in the magazine they are fully -open and the sheet is enabled'to.enter` between them. 'll-Then' the sheet is actually positioned 1n the jaws,

other wordsthe pin 115 becomes released and the jaws close. In the operation of thesecond grippers, assuming that they are approaching the printed sheet, the jaws will be open. As they near the sheet, the pad is elevated 'and a set'of vacuum cups 117 simultaneously raise the sheet or sh'ectstrom the negative in 'position to enter between the second gripper' jaws. The cups. 117:. are

5 the jaws the vacuum is broken and the grippers begin their withdrawal movement, at which time the jaws. will close and the printed sheet will be'withdra-wn from the negative. W'hen the grip-per reaches the 'Nl extreme rearward position the pin 115 moves around the guide preparatory to returning to the negative. for another printed sheet. The jaws are thus opened again and the sheetis released. The printed sheet may 'l5 then be removed from the machine in any manner desired.

The light box as used in connection with the machine possesses many advantageous features. As here shown a plurality of lights 120 areinonnted on transversely movable blocks 121 The lights are supported on crank-like tubular members 122 which may be rotated and adjusted toward and from the opening.. In this manner practically '25 any distribution or concentration of the -lightmay be hadrv Any suitable switching means for operating the lights to effect a properly timed exposure of' a sheet may .be utilized. A s

* particularly shown in Figure l-l, proper 1timing of the lightsis adapted to be secured :by means of a switch 123 which is so arranged that both the .timeand duration of :lighting o f each lamp may be individually -*g5-effected. As h ere shown` the switch 123 comprises adjnstably positioned insulated contacts 1 24 each of which is Aconnected in the circuit of a different light, and a .common contact member 125 also included in the :light circuits and Awhich-is arrangedtofbe movedto establish electrical contact with one or more of the contacts 124;and thereby close the circuits therethrough. .The con- -mets-124, it will be noted, are here shown slidably and frictionally engaged in parallel uideways 126 provided in a block 12' ormed of insulating material so that they may be held positioned where desired. Movement of the member 125 in proper synchronism with the operative cycle of the sheet handling mechanism is preferably .effected by attaching it by means of a connecting rod 128 t0 any reciproeating portion of the device such as the blocks carry- '55 ing the sheet gripping mechanism. It will now be noted that by positioning the contacts 124 in their guideways in proper relation to--the range of travel of the movable member 125, that the desired length of ex- 0 posnre of the sheets may be exactly obtained.

I claim:

1. In a photographic printing machine, a 'light box having an opening, a pad arranged to cover said opening, means for 5 `alteri'iately placing the pad .on the ,opening esst AvAiLAeLE copi and withdrawing it therefrom, means for moving a sheet vto engage said opening and having a sheet gripping device arranged to successively pass over and under said pad.

2. In a photographic printing machine, a light box having an opening, a pad adapted to cover said opening, means for alternately placing the pad on said opening and withdrawing it therefrom, and means for moving a sheet to engage said opening including a sheet gripping device arranged to pass between said opening and the pad when the latter is withdrawn troni the opening and arranged to pass over both the opening and pad when the latter is engaged over the opening.

3. In an automatic photographic printing machine, a light box having an opening, a pad adapted to be held engaged iii said opening or disengaged therefrom, and a sheet gripping device arranged to pass on the inner side of the pad when the latter is disengaged from theV opening and arranged to pass on the outer side of the pad when the latter is engaged with the opening.

4. In an automatic photographic printing machine, a lightbox provided with an opening, means tor fixing a negative over said opening, a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of sheets, means including a sheet gripping device for withdrawing a sheet from said magazine and placing it over said negative, and means including a sheet gripping device adapted to more a sheet vfrom said opening while said iii-st means is moving 'f a sheet toward said opening.

5. In a photographic printing machineJ a frame, a light box supported thereon and hav-ing a light opening, a plurality of magazines each adapted to contain sheets of the "l same size or of different size than the other, and independent sheet gripping devices associated with the respective magazines adapted to withdraw the sheet-s from said magazines and deposit them over said light iii opening.

6. In an automatic photographic printing machine, a trame, a light box mounted iii said frame and having an opening, a magaa zine adjacent one end ol said trame adapted to contain a plurality of cards to be printed, means for raising a portion of the outermost sheet in the magazine, a reciprocating member. mounted on said frame, a pad adapted for covering said opening, means for alternately raising `and lowering said pad whereby it may respectively lie spaced from and engaged over said opening,- means for moving the sheets from the magazine to said light opening and including a gripping device adapted to clutch said raised sheet and deposit-it over the opening after moving it thereto, means for raising said sheet over the opening, and means for removing said sheet from said opening including a gripping member adapted to clutch said raised sheet and deposit it after withdrawing it from the opening. i a .-7. In an automatic photographic printing machine, a tram'e,.a light box in said trame having a light opening, -a magazine adjacent one endot1 said frame adapted to contain a pluralityrof; cards to be printed,means employing a vacuum tor raising a portion ot' the outermost sheet in the magazine, a reciprocating member mounted on said frame, a pad adapted for covering said light opening, means for alternately raising and lowering said pad whereby it may respectively lie spaced from and engaged over said opening, means ior moving the sheets from the magazine to said light opening, including a gripping device adapted to clutch said raised sheet and deposit it over said opening after moving it thereto, means employing a vacuum for raising the sheet engaging the opening, and means for removing the sheet from the opening including a gripping member adapted to clutch said raised sheet and deposit it after withdrawing it from the opening.

8. In an automatic photographic printing machine, a frame, a light box in said Jframe having a light opening, a magazine adjacent one end of said trame adapted to contain a plurality of cards to be printed, means for elevating the outermost sheet in the magazine, a pad for covering said light opening, means for alternately raising and lowering said pad, means including a gripping device t'or withdrawing said raised sheet and depositing it over said opening, said gripping device being adapted.to pass under said pad in effecting said' operation and over said pad when returning Jfor another sheet, a second gripping device movable with the irst and adapted to withdraw the sheet from the opening while said iirst device is carrying another sheet thereto.

9. An automatic photographic printing machine comprising a frame, a light box in said frame having an opening, a magazine adjacent one end of said frame adapted to contain a plurality of cards to be printed, means employing a vacuum for raising a portion ot the outermost sheet in the magazine, a reciprocating member mounted on said frame, apad adapted for covering said opening, means for alternately raising and lowering said pad whereby it may respectfully lie spaced from and engaged over said opening, means including a gripping device for withdrawing said raised sheet and depositing it over said opening, said gripping device being adapted to pass under said pad in effecting said operation and over said pad when returning for another sheet, means employing a vacuum for raising the sheet engaging said opening, and a second gripping device movable with the first and adapted BEST AVAILABLE cot. 5

to withdraw the sheet from over the opening while said vfirst device is carrying another sheet thereto.

10. An automatic photographic printing machine comprising a frame, a light box in said traine provided with a light opening,

.a plurality ot magazines adjacent one end of said trame each adapted to contain sheets of the same or ditierent size than the other, means employing a vacuum :tor elevating a portion ot the outermost sheet in each magazine, a pad adapted for covering said light opening, means for alternately raising and lowering said pad over the opening, a reciprocating member mounted on the frame, gripping devices attached to said member adapted to withdraw the elevated sheets in the magazines and deposit them over said light opening, second gripping devices attached to said reciprocating member adapted to withdraw the sheets from the light opening while the tirst devices are carrying other sheets thereto, and means for raising the sheets as a whole in the magazines so that the outermost sheets will invariably be at the same height.

1l. In a photographic printing machine, a frame, a light box supported thereon and provided with an opening, a plurality ot magazines adapted to contain sensitized f sheets, independent sheet gripping devices associated with the respective magazines arranged to withdraw the sheets from said magazines and deposit them over said opening, and means for raising a sheet in a magazine so that it may be gripped by the gripping device associated with its magazine.

'12. In a. photographic printing machine, a trame, a light box supported on said frame and provided with an opening, a magazine adapted to contain sensitized sheets, a sheet conveying device mounted in said frame and arranged to move a sheet from said magazine to position it over said opening, and a second sheet gripping device mounted in said traine and arranged to convey said sheet away from said opening.

13. In a photographic printing machine, a frame, a light box provided with an opening, a. magazine adapted to contain sensitized sheets, a sheet conveying device arranged to move a sheet from said magazine to position it over said opening, a second sheet conveying device arranged to convey said sheet away from said opening, and means for raising a. portion of the outermost sheet in said magazine so that it may be gripped by said first sheet conveying` device.

14. A photographic printing machine comprising a light' box provided with an opening, a magazine adapted to cont-ain sensitized sheets, a sheetconveying device arranged to move the outermost sheet from said magazine to position it over said opening, a second sheetconveying dev ice arranged to move said sheet away from said opening, and means operating on said sheet to position a portion thereof so that it may be gripped by said sheet conveying devices previous to movement thereby.

"15. A photographic printing machine comprising a light boi; provided with an opening, a magazine adapted to contain sensitized sheets, a sheet conveying device arranged to move successive sheets from said magazine to a position over said opening, a second Sheet conveying device arranged to successively move said sheets from said opening, and means employing a vacuum for successively arranging said sheets to be gripped by said devices.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Logansport, this 22- day o Sept., 1922.

HosnA BLM-R. 

